Indulge in Pie ‘n the Sky Malts and Sundaes at the Dairy Goodness Bar, Watch the 64th Princess Kay of the Milky Way be Crowned and Celebrate 63 Years of the All-You-Can Drink Milk Stand

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There’s plenty of dairy to delight fairgoers at the Great Minnesota Get Together this year. Visitors to the Dairy Goodness Bar will be able to enjoy the winner of Midwest Dairy Association’s third annual “Flavor of the Fair” contest: the Pie ‘n the Sky malt or sundae. They can also make flavor suggestions for next year while watching the 64th Princess Kay of the Milky Way and the 11 finalists have their likenesses carved in butter. The All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand, owned by Minnesota’s dairy farm families, celebrates its 63rd year at the fair, where visitors can purchase a bottomless cup of 2 percent white or low-fat chocolate milk for just $2. Dairy devotees and other fitness fiends will line up for the 33rd Annual Milk Run 5K early on the first Sunday of the fair.

New Flavor of the Fair for 2017: Have your pie and eat it, too! This spring, Midwest Dairy Association conducted its third annual online “Flavor of the Fair” public poll to select a new featured malt or sundae flavor for this year’s fair. The winner is…Pie ‘n the Sky!

Made with Minnesota dairy farmers’ secret, State Fair-recipe vanilla ice cream or malt, topped with crunchy spiced cookies, lemon curd and dark chocolate syrup, Pie ‘n the Sky will only be available at the Dairy Goodness Bar in the Dairy Building (corner of Judson and Underwood, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) during this year’s fair.

Visitors to the Dairy Goodness Bar will be able to suggest potential flavor combinations for the 2018 “Flavor of the Fair.” One suggestion will be drawn daily, and the winner will receive an “I ♥ Milk” t-shirt.

As always, the Dairy Goodness Bar will serve up its famous malts, sundaes and cones, as well as milk, yogurt, Greek yogurt, cheese sticks and fresh cheese curds.

At the Dairy Goodness Bar, on Thrifty Thursday (Opening Day, Aug. 24), cheese sticks are two for $1. On Senior Days (Monday, Aug. 28, and Thursday, Aug. 31), ice cream cones are two for $5. On Kids Days (Monday, Aug. 28, and Monday, Labor Day, Sept. 4), all yogurt is two for $1. And on Military Appreciation Day (Tuesday, Aug. 29), $1 off sundaes.

Minnesota’s Icon, Princess Kay: The 12 Princess Kay of the Milky Way candidates have been preparing for judging and coronation since they were selected in May. From the start of the Princess Kay program in 1954, the coronation has served as the un-official kick- off to the fair, bringing together State Fair and dairy enthusiasts to celebrate the dairy community’s important contribution to Minnesota. The coronation ceremony starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, at the State Fair Band Shell (1302 Cooper Street).

Then starting on Thursday, August 24, Princess Kay of the Milky Way and each of the 11 Princess Kay finalists are sculpted in butter, one each day beginning with Princess Kay, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Dairy Building (1694 Judson Avenue). Princess Kay and the finalists will share their stories and answer questions from the crowd as they sit for artist Linda Christensen inside the 40-degree, rotating sculpting booth. They will also appear in Midwest Dairy’s booth across from the butter sculptures, visiting with fair-goers about dairy farmers’ commitment to health, animal care and the environment.

Princess Kay and the finalists will also provide family activities and games at the Christensen Farm Stage near the FFA Miracle of Birth Center (Judson and Clough) at the following times throughout the fair:

Saturday, August 26 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sunday, August 27 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Monday, August 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Friday, September 1 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, September 2 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sunday, September 3 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Fair-goers can follow the Princess Kay coronation live and see updates from the Fair on Twitter, @MidwestDairy and with the hashtag #MNPrincessKay, as well as on Princess Kay’s Facebook page.

All-You-Can-Drink Milk: The Best Value at the Fair – Fairgoers seeking their fill of fresh, cold, 2 percent white or low-fat chocolate milk can do so for just $2 per cup at the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand, which will celebrate its 63rd year in 2017. The all-you-can drink tradition began in 1955, when the stand was a tent on Machinery Hill, charging a dime for a bottomless cup of white milk. It later moved to its current location on the corner of Judson and Clough (kitty-corner from the Coliseum), and following a rebuild of the stand in 2004, chocolate milk was added to the menu. It is the only food or drink item offered at the fair as an unlimited item.

33rd Annual Milk Run: Members of Team Dairy – a running group for dairy enthusiasts – will be behind the starting line when the 33rd annual State Fair Milk Run 5K kicks off this year. The team will participate in the annual race on Sunday morning, August 27, (7:45 a.m.; on West Dan Patch south of the West End Market). Midwest Dairy Association is sponsoring the event again this year, with Kemps providing the free chocolate milk to runners as they cross the finish line. All runners will also receive a coupon for a complimentary treat from the Dairy Goodness Bar, courtesy of Minnesota dairy farmers. Princess Kay of the Milky Way will give the signal for the race to begin.

Midwest Dairy Association® represents 7,400 dairy farm families and works on their behalf to increase dairy sales, foster innovation and inspire consumer confidence in dairy products and practices. Midwest Dairy is funded by checkoff dollars from dairy farmers in a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit MidwestDairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.